Charline

The shock waves from the attacks in Paris earlier this month can still be felt.  Clamorous demonstrations have yet to abate, meandering TV debates continue to befuddle a confused audience and a tsunami of cartoons has yet to recede behind the flood barriers of either good taste or necessity.

More important than whether we are Charlie or not, however, is to understand what emotional hurricane has been unleashed in us that continues to churn up so much activism.  

Is it that we really care about free speech?  Do we truly appreciate what it took to have this right be enshrined in our western constitutions?  Is all of this really about a principle?

I am wondering because where is Europe and all its loud-mouths, when women become the target of a heinous attack, and when the hard fought for right to fair and equal treatment regardless of ones gender is trashed, because some guy had a bad day?

Or is that too close for comfort?

Of course, it is always easier to look for the evil asshole across the fence of religion or ethnicity instead of in one’s own backyard.   

I am Charline and I am looking at you!